Better Saranac Lake

01/20/2026

Letter to the Editor in today’s Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Saranac Lake resident names something many people are feeling — how hard it is to stay optimistic right now — and why local leadership still matters deeply.

Her letter is about hope starting at home:
✨ Civility over intimidation
✨ Transparency over decree
✨ Listening over loyalty tests
✨ Affordability addressed openly and honestly

Change starts here. And it starts with neighbors speaking up, showing up, and choosing a better way forward.

📖 Read the full letter here:

To the editor: I admit it. It’s hard to be optimistic when the daily news is full of international war crimes, erosion of the Constitution that binds us as a nation and the intimidation that happens at our own Village of Saranac Lake board meetings. Add to that the cost of groceries, heat, and pro...

01/16/2026

We recently asked residents how they’re feeling about village leadership right now. Here’s what we heard:
• 8% feel very confident
• 57% feel somewhat confident
• 35% do not feel confident

Beyond the numbers, many people shared similar hopes for the future - clearer communication, thoughtful long-term planning, and transparency around finances.

This kind of feedback matters. It helps us understand where people are feeling steady and where more listening, explanation, and care are needed. Building trust takes time, honesty, and a willingness to hear one another.

*This is data from the Better Saranac Lake community survey. It’s not an argument or a conclusion — it’s a reflection of what residents shared. The survey was open for several weeks and invited broad community input. No single tool captures every voice, but recurring themes are worth paying attention to.*

01/14/2026

Today’s local news highlights two things that make Saranac Lake special: people stepping up, and people coming together.

Village Trustee Kelly Brunette announced she is running for mayor, sharing a vision centered on listening, clear communication, and thoughtful decision-making. Whether you agree or disagree on issues, it matters that local leaders are willing to step forward.

The Winter Carnival Committee announced Josh Dann as the 2026 Grand Marshal, honoring a Saranac Laker whose work in our schools and tireless fundraising has made a real difference for local families. The Grand Marshal Reception and Royalty Dinner on Feb. 10 is a reminder of how much heart this community has.

A strong village is built on participation — civic engagement, volunteerism, celebration, and respect for one another. These stories reflect that spirit.

01/10/2026

According to the Better Saranac Lake community survey:
• 16% say Saranac Lake is clearly headed in the right direction

This suggests a community that is thoughtful, cautious, and looking for clearer direction as major decisions are considered.

*This is data from the Better Saranac Lake community survey. It’s not an argument or a conclusion — it’s a reflection of what residents shared. The survey was open for several weeks and invited broad community input. No single tool captures every voice, but recurring themes are worth paying attention to.*

01/09/2026

What Saranac Lake Residents Are Saying 📢

Over the past several weeks, residents shared feedback through the Better Saranac Lake community survey. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate!

While responses reflect a range of perspectives, several clear themes emerged:
• Concern about affordability and long-term costs
• Desire for clearer financial information before major commitments
• Support for thoughtful, long-term planning — not rushed decisions
• Frustration with process and communication

Listening carefully and grounding decisions in clear information is essential to making responsible choices for our community’s future.

POST 1 of 5
Follow for survey takeaways 👍

01/08/2026

Thank you to Kelly Brunette Village of Saranac Lake, trustees, staff, and the many volunteers who helped move important work forward in 2025 — including long-term infrastructure planning, Riverwalk improvements, and steps to support the sustainability of Mt. Pisgah.

This letter highlights the kind of steady, behind-the-scenes progress that keeps our community moving in the right direction.
👉 Read the full letter in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:

Dear neighbors: Happy New Year! As we begin 2026, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work accomplished in 2025 and share the priorities that continue to guide my service: thoughtful planning, clear communication and fiscal responsibility. In 2025, the Saranac Lake Village Board addressed a....

01/06/2026

Congratulations to David Lynch!

We’d like to extend congratulations to David Lynch on his appointment to the Harrietstown Town Board.

Stepping forward to serve in local government is no small commitment. We appreciate David’s willingness to contribute his time and energy to the work of the town and wish him success.

You can read more about the appointment here:
https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2026/01/lynch-appointed-to-harrietstown-council/

Strong communities are built by neighbors who are willing to show up and serve. 👏

01/05/2026

Village resident William Martin raises a critical question about the proposed Emergency Services Building: are we trying to solve too many problems all at once?

He makes a clear distinction between:
The Fire Department, which is a core village responsibility and urgently needs a solution,
and
The Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, a private 501(c)(3) that is currently funded through contracts and operates independently.

His argument is — let’s address the firehouse need directly and responsibly, and allow the ambulance service to pursue an EMS district or other funding model. Rather than folding everything into one massive, costly project.

📰 Read the full commentary in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:

To the editor: Are we trying to eat the entire elephant in one bite? After years of not listening to our fire department, we now need a firehouse. Great, let’s take that bite. If we had listened to the firemen, it wouldn’t be an emergency right now. We would have planned for it decades ago. […...

01/04/2026

Over the past few weeks, many residents have taken time to complete the Better Saranac Lake community survey. Thank you to everyone who has shared thoughtful feedback about what’s working, what’s not, and what you want our village to focus on next.

As we head into several important Village Board discussions with long-term implications, we want to be sure as many voices as possible are included.

The survey will close soon, and we’ll be sharing a public summary of what we're hearing from residents to help inform upcoming conversations and decisions.

If you haven’t yet participated, this is your opportunity to be part of that record.

📝 Take the survey here:

Hi neighbor — we all know Saranac Lake is a special place. But every great community has things we can improve. This short survey is your chance to share what’s working, what’s not, and what matters most to you. Responses are anonymous unless you choose to share your name at the end.

01/03/2026

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise published a Letter to the Editor from Saranac Lake resident Trevor Fravor describing how a short-term rental permit was issued for the apartment he lives in as a long-term tenant.

The Village adopted a Short-Term Rental law in 2023 and amended it in 2025. But the law's success lies in it being administered and enforced.

Fravor’s experience raises serious questions about:
• Whether tenants are being displaced without adequate notice
• Whether STR permits are being issued in districts that may already be at or over their caps
• Whether the Village is tracking how many long-term rentals are being lost—and who is affected

Housing is not an abstract policy issue. It’s about stability, fairness, and people’s ability to stay in their homes.

We believe the next step is clear: audit the administration and enforcement of the STR law, using the Village’s own data, and fix what isn’t working.

https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2025/12/village-of-saranac-lake-short-term-rentals-laws/

01/02/2026

Last week, the mayor attempted to shut down Trustee Aurora White when she raised key facts. He didn’t want to engage with the substance of her argument—so he tried to silence the messenger.

Trustee White cited clear financial calculations showing that even a $5 million bond would push village taxes beyond the state tax cap.

Rather than address those numbers, the mayor interrupted her *six times* and dismissed her concerns. He repeatedly told her to “calm down.”

The irony is hard to miss. Trustee White holds an MBA, a Cornell University certification in financial analytics, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was doing exactly what residents expect from a trustee: asking hard questions, grounding the discussion in facts, and protecting taxpayers.

Instead of responding with evidence, the mayor waved off the financial reality, suggesting vaguely that, “We can do ‘creative’ things on the revenue side,” including the notion that electric vehicle charging stations could somehow offset the largest capital expense in village history.

Facts matter.

When leaders refuse to engage with facts, transparency suffers. When they try to silence those who bring them forward, the public should pay attention.

Explore initiatives for community growth, local engagement, and sustainable development in Saranac Lake, NY. Join us in making the village better for everyone.